Bihar: RSS chief meets rebel BJP leaders to defuse crisis

Patna: In an unprecedented move, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat held a meeting with rival BJP factions in Patna to defuse the crisis in the state party unit. This follows reports that four BJP MLAs have hit out against state party leader Sushil Modi and also against the BJP central leadership.

The BJP suspended its MLA Amarnath Gami on Sunday while senior leader Vijay Mishra and MLAs Shashi Hazari and Rana Ganshewar are also among the rebels. Hit by the prospects of its MLAs crossing over to the JD(U), the BJP is alleging that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is behind the revolt.

"MLA Amarnath Gami has been suspended for six years. Nitish Kumar is behind this," BJP spokesperson Vinod Narayan Jha alleged. The JD(U), however, has refuted the allegation. "As far as JD(U) is concerned, we have nothing to do with BJP," JD(U) General Secretary and spokesperson Dr Ajay Alok said.